Illinois got a reminder over the weekend of just how dangerous things might have looked with Quentin Coleman and Keaton Wagler sharing the floor.
Wagler, who exploded in his freshman season and then declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, was back on campus with former Illini guard Kylan Boswell, working out with the team and getting some scrimmage run in. Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher posted about their return, and clips circulating on social media showed Wagler and Coleman connecting in the kind of way that makes you stop and stare.
One play in particular said plenty. Wagler handled the ball, set things up, and got Coleman the rock for a hard drive and dunk. It was the sort of sequence that made Wagler look right at home in an Illinois jersey again, and it also showed off Coleman’s power and movement as a freshman.
That’s where the “what could have been” conversation starts to bite. Wagler wasn’t going to be blamed for leaving after winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and carrying Illinois to the Final Four, but the idea of him and Coleman on the same roster is enough to make anyone wonder how far this team could have gone.
Coleman, a five-star freshman, is being viewed as the player to help fill the gap Wagler left behind. But if both were in the lineup together, Coleman’s presence might have done even more than replace production - he could have made life easier for Wagler by pulling attention away and opening the floor. That’s the kind of pairing that starts to look unfair in a hurry.
And it wouldn’t stop there. Add Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and Stefan Vaaks, all of whom were brought in by head coach Brad Underwood, and the picture gets even louder.
Mirkovic is still working back from foot surgery he had at the end of July, but he is expected to return before the season starts after a standout freshman year. Tomislav Ivisic is also part of the mix, which only adds to the sense that Illinois still has plenty of firepower.
Still, the version with Wagler and Coleman together is the one that lingers. Instead, Wagler is headed to the Clippers, and Coleman is the one tasked with helping make up for the scoring he left behind.
In Other News...
Illinois Fans Got Some Surprising NFL Cutdown News This Week
Roster cutdown week always has a way of turning college fan bases into overnight NFL followers, and Illinois was no exception. A handful of Fighting Illini alumni were caught up in the leagues preseason roster moves ahead of the 2026 season, with some names waived, others surviving the final trim, and a few still waiting to see where they land next.
The biggest note for Illinois fans was rookie James Thompson Jr. making the San Francisco 49ers 53-man roster, a significant early milestone for a player just starting his pro career. TeRah Edwards also stayed in the mix after going from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Carolina Panthers, while some waived players, including Luke Altmyer, are expected to be on practice squad watch if they clear the wire. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got Another Reminder Its NFL Pipeline Is Real
Roster cut-down day always has a way of showing which college programs really keep feeding the league, and Illinois got another clear sign of that this week. By the time NFL teams settled their Week 1 rosters for the 2026 season, 22 former Illini were on active 53-man rosters, a reminder that the programs pipeline is no longer just a talking point but a steady source of pro talent.
The list of movers also included a few notable developments for former Illinois players. James Thompson Jr. earned a spot on the San Francisco 49ers active roster, while TeRah Edwards was traded to the Carolina Panthers as teams sorted out their final decisions. As usual on cut-down day, not every update was a good one, with several former Illini waived or placed on injury lists while clubs trimmed to their opening-day group. [Read more 🡒]
Berry Wallace Is Giving Illinois A Star Worth Dreaming On
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What makes the rise even more compelling is that Wallace is still only partway through her college runway. Womens Hoops Masterclass has her rated as a top-25 prospect for the 2028 WNBA Draft, and with two years of eligibility left, Illinois is not just watching a breakout season fade into the rearview mirror. The real question now is how far her game can still climb before her college story is done. [Read more 🡒]